citiesdefines

Citiesdefines is a conceptual framework and classification system intended to standardize how urban areas are described and compared. It seeks to enable researchers, policymakers, and urban planners to generate consistent city profiles and to support cross-city analyses by documenting a defined set of attributes that together define a city.

The framework organizes city-defines around core dimensions: population size and density; geographic extent and urban form; governance structure and administrative boundaries; economic profile and key sectors; infrastructure and mobility; environment, resilience, and sustainability; and social and cultural characteristics. Each city receives a profile that combines values for these attributes, using either discrete categories or continuous scales. The result is a flexible, multidimensional city-defines record that can be used for benchmarking, clustering, or trend analysis. Data sources include national censuses and official statistics; international datasets; satellite-derived measures of land use and night-time lights; and local administrative records. Outputs can include city-defines profiles, dashboards, and comparative reports. The framework is designed to be modular and adaptable to different regional contexts, with transparent documentation of criteria, data sources, and update cycles.

Applications span urban research, policy evaluation, investment planning, and governance assessments. Critics note that the lack of universally harmonized data and the variability of administrative boundaries can hinder comparability, and that the choice of attributes or thresholds can influence outcomes. Proponents argue that a flexible, open framework improves clarity and encourages methodological rigor.

See also: urban studies, city nomenclature, functional urban area.